Round Ligament Varicosities During Pregnancy: Case Report.

Baek,  Chang Kyu; Oh,  Young Taik; Jung,  Dae Chul

Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2011;30(4): 277-280.

Chang Kyu Baek, Young Taik Oh, Dae Chul Jung

Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University Health System, Korea. oytaik@yuhs.ac

Published online: December 1, 2011.

ABSTRACT

There are various causes of a painful palpable mass in the groin during pregnancy. The differential diagnoses of an inguinal mass include hernia, lymphadenopathy, mesothelial cyst, cystic lymphangioma, neoplasms (lipoma, leiomyoma and sarcoma), endometriosis, embryonic remnants and round ligament varicosities. Among them, round ligament varicosities can be easily misdiagnosed as an inguinal hernia in a pregnant woman. These lesions should be managed conservatively because they resolve spontaneously during the postpartum period. Ultrasonography can help make the diagnosis of round ligament varicosities and so prevent unnecessary surgical intervention and the associated morbidity. Herein we report on a case of round ligament varicosities that presented during pregnancy and this condition was readily diagnosed via Doppler sonography.

Keywords: Round ligament varicosities; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography (US); Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)